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Shamrock and Sword: The Saint Patrick's Battalion in the U.S.-Mexican War

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This book chronicles the rise and fall of the Saint Patrick's Battalion, "The San Patricios," a notable arm of the Mexican Army during the War of 1846-1848. Two hundred deserters from the U. S. Army joined the San Patricios and fought against their former comrades in five major battles. As detailed by the author, the history of the San Patricios is a woeful tale of angry, bewildered, naive, or calculating young men, from varied backgrounds, who deserted for a myriad of reasons and paid a fearful price.

John Riley, the Irish born originator and organizer of the San Patricios, was a soldier of fortune who survived all of his wars. (Riley had the distinction of serving three different national flags in the 19th century) Two-fifths of the San Patricios were from Ireland and the remainder from other European nations or the United States. All of the deserters had been privates in the U. S. Army and several were noted troublemakers.

The casualties suffered by the San Patricios at Churubusco on August 20, 1847, were devastating. Three hours after the battle had commenced, 60% of the two hundred and four men were either dead or had been captured by the Americans. Of the 85 San Patricios taken prisoner, 72 including Major John Riley were tried for desertion. All were found guilty except for one man who was judged insane. Fifty men were condemned to death by hanging, fifteen were to suffer lesser punishments, and five were pardoned.

On September 10, Riley and 14 men were brutally whipped and branded with a large "D." Sixteen of the condemned were hanged that day and four others the following day. The remaining men were positioned two days later on a scaffold overlooking Chapultepec Castle awaiting an American victory. When this occurred, 30 San Patricios were to be launched into eternity. A macabre chapter took place when the condemned men viewed the American flag being raised over the castle. They cheered with eyes uplifted and their loyalties reclaimed at the instant of their deaths.

The victory over Mexico was celebrated by the U. S. military and by politicians as it was the first war fought and won on foreign soil. It involved the first large scale amphibious landing of troops; it provided the U. S. Army with its first experience in occupying a foreign capital; and it crowned manifest destiny as the harbinger of America's future. Four officers who fought in the war became U. S. Presidents and forty-three officers became noted generals in the American civil war.

Mexico lost the war because the balance between politics and the military became unhinged and thus destroyed any semblance of strategy. This resulted in a lack of control on the battlefield. Few Mexican commanders had any idea as to what was happening during most battles. Their tactics were poorly conceived and doomed to failure although the bravery of the Mexican soldier was unquestioned. The difference between the two sides was the fact the President of Mexico also conducted field operations; a relic of European command structure unsuited for the innovative strategy employed by the Americans.

There were many reasons why American soldiers deserted during the Mexican War; the highest desertion rate in any foreign war fought by the United States. The reasons were varied: the severe regimentation of 19th century military life; the harsh and cruel punishment for the slightest infraction; the unpopularity of the war; the Catholic issue; economic enticements offered by the Mexicans such as higher pay, land grants, and higher rank; the widespread prejudice toward foreign born soldiers; and the lack of promotion or advancement in the U. S. Army.

The members of the San Patricios weren't cowards despite the opprobrious words heaped on them by the Americans. Their proficiency and bravery in battle elicited the highest praise from the Mexican Government, "...all the time the attack(s) lasted they sustained the fire with extraordinary courage." On September 12, the anniversary of the hangings and on every Saint Patrick's Day, ceremonies are held in San Angel, a suburb of Mexico City to honor these heroes of Mexico.

Robert Miller constructed his story from known data and from sources hitherto unread. He manages to combine, arrange, and connect a mass of facts with the insight of a very good historian yet his careful scholarship doesn't interfere with nor detract from an exciting tale. He writes with a flowing style so clear and alive that the reader is drawn into this book with pleasure. The footnotes, bibliography, and index are comprehensive and reflect a very thorough job. The battle maps are adequate. It's unfortunate no pictures or paintings exist in order to identify members of the San Patricios.

Miller's book isn't about leaders, winners, or losers. It's about people with their strengths and their weaknesses; their virtues and their vices; and the realization that some people when beguiled by perceived glory, might take a final and fatal step in their lives. If good writing and careful scholarship are signs of a professional than Robert Ryal Miller is a stylish professional indeed.

A terrific book on a little known subject. The tale is compelling and tragic, yet filled with conviction and courage in a time that was alive with turmoil. Excellent research, written in a crisp objective fashion. Excellent reading. For more details, "Rogues March" by Peter Stevens is another suberb addition on this subject.

With the exception of two romantic novels and an amateur 1986 stage play,
no treatment of the history of The Saint Patrick's Battalion was available
until the publcation of this volume.

This unique unit, composed almost entirely of U.S. Army deserters, the
majority of them Irish-born, operated as part of Antonio de Santa Ana's
army during the Mexican-American war of 1846-1848.

Described by the author as a group of "bewildered young men", they were
idolized in Mexico as martyrs and heroes while being despised in North
America as traitors and deserters.

For deserters, they were certainly fond of warfare. Participating in
five major battles, including Buena Vista and Churubusco, the
artillery and infantry units of their battalion typically suffered
combat casualties upwards of fifty percent.

The author, Robert Ryal Miller, tells their story well - from the inception
of their unit to the last days of the war and beyond. Especially gripping
is his description of the despicable U.S. Colonel William Selby Harney's
punishment of thirty captured "San Patricios". He timed the hanging of
his captives (including Francis O'Connor, who had lost both legs to cannon
fire and had to be propped up on the gallows) to coincide with the raising
of the American flag at the conclusion of the assault on Chapultepec castle.

Miller does his best to deal with the many myths that surround the "Batallion
de San Patricio", including the one that has them establishing San Patricio,
Texas and, for the most part, succeeds. However, as Thoreau once said: "Some
circumstantial evidence is too strong to ignore - such as a trout in the milk".

This excellent (and long past due) history is enhanced by the inclusion of
a preface, illustrations, maps, tables, an appendix, notes and a bibliography.

Miller does a nice job keeping the reader's interest and his presentation of the facts is clear and upfront. However, more than a few times he does go out of his way to present his opinion that the San Patricios where more likely motivated by personal benefit than a search for justice. Fortunately, he doesn't allow his opinion get in the way of the facts letting the reader make his own informed decision.

I loved the book and God knows I love the Irish but nary a word written about the German contribution. The Germans, because of religion and persecution, had more in common with the Irish and the Mexicans than they did with their WASP comrades-in-arms. The Germans made up fifty per cent of the San Patricio Battalion, yet you never hear a word about it.

"Shamrock and Sword"explores the US-Mexican War, using the Saint Patrick's Batallion as his vehicle. The Batallion, or San Patricios, was a military unit fighting for Mexico comprised of mostly US Army deserters. Lauded in Mexico and reviled in the United States, the San Patricios became a force to be reckoned with and sometimes even feared by their former comrades-in-arms. Robert Ryal Miller uses the history of the Batallion to also examine the US-Mexican war itself, which provides an excellent overview of a conflict given little attention in our school's history books. Miller deftly captures the fever of manifest destiny which was gripping the USA at that time to show how the San Patrcios felt more sympathy with their Mexican enemies than with what they viewed was a cruel and personally oppressive United States Army. This is historical narration at its best. The San Patricios were a puzzling aberration, and Miller does their story justice with a crisp, objective narration balanced by careful research. HIghly recommended.

This is an account of deserters from the American army who went over to the Mexicans and served in what became known as the St. Patrick Battalion, or San Patricios. Except for two novels, and a few journal articles, there had been no scholarly treatment of this subject. Miller has filled this need with a competent, well-documented book of less than 200 pages of text.

Although the Mexicans were accustomed to forming "foreign legions" made up of non-Mexicans, The San Patricio Battalion (actually, throughout the Mexican War the San Patricios were organized as one or two companies--it was only designated a Battalion in 1848) was unique in that it was composed almost wholly of deserters from the American army. The key figure and organizer was one John Riley, a native of Galway County in Ireland. Not much is known about him, (his own narratives were frequently contradictory) except that he had previously been an NCO in the British Army, was stationed in Canada, deserted, came to the US, and enlisted in the US Army around 1845. Two days after his enlistment, he and his regiment left for Texas. In April of 1846, Riley deserted from the camp opposite Matamoros. This was about a month before the American declaration of War. He joined or was recruited into the Mexican Army, and commissioned a first lieutenant of artillery.

During the month of April, there were a number of desertions from Taylor's army. Some 46 were reported. These deserters formed the nucleus of the San Patricios. Irishmen formed the largest contingent, but by no means a majority. However, the Irish-Catholic link provided cohesion for the group. Riley chose the name and the flag--an emerald green banner emblazoned with a gold harp and shamrock. The Mexicans made more of the Irish connection than the San Patricios, and popular folklore makes the battalion a solid block of Hibernians.

The San Patricios fought at Matamoros (May 1846), Monterey (September 1846) Buena Vista (February 1847) Cerro Gordo (April 1847), and at Churubusco (August 1847). It was during this battle that 60 percent of the San Patricios (at that time, about 200 men) were killed or captured. Of those captured, 72 were known to have deserted and were court-martialled. All, including John Riley were condemned to death. However, General Scott in his review of the findings decided that those who deserted before a state of war existed between Mexico and the US, could not be executed. This saved Riley's neck, although he was sentenced to a flogging and branding on both cheeks (SOP for desertion at the time). Altogether, 50 were condemned to hang. The executions took place in several batches, the most spectacular being a mass hanging of 30, coordinated to the fall of Chapultepec Castle which was under assault. The moment the American flag was raised over the citadel, signaling its capture, the trap was sprung.

Those San Patricios who survived the hangings were imprisoned in US-occupied Mexico. The Mexican army was reorganized during the period of peace negotiations, and the San Patricio company of infantry was recognized. Amazingly, there still were deserters from the American army who were enlisted, and Mexican authorities made considerable efforts to solicit desertion and recruit Americans.

Following the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in February 1848, prisoners were exchanged. The last of the San Patricios were released in June. However, as deserters they were drummed out of American service.

It was after the war that the San Patricios were organized into a battalion of two companies, with Riley as brevet Lt. Col. in command. The unit was immediately embroiled in the political unrest endemic to Mexico and was commanded to help put down a military revolt. One of the San Patricio companies apparently conspired with the revolutionaries, and it was believed that Riley and the other company would join the coup. The government took firm action, leading to the disbanding of the battalion, and the exile of its officers. Riley was "retired" and sent to Veracruz, with full pay, presumably to take the next ship out. And this is the last we hear of him. Most of the San Patricios left Mexico, although a few stayed and their descendants presumably still live there.

Miller devotes a chapter to analyzing why there were so many desertions and why. The reasons why are numerous. Discipline in the American army was very harsh and often unjust. Some of the men made connections with Mexican women and deserted to stay with them, joining the Mexican army to get support. Many, particularly those being court-martialed for a hanging offense, claimed they were drunk, picked up by Mexican forces, and coerced into enlisting. Some deserted because they were practicing Catholics in a Protestant army (there were only two "acting" Catholic chaplains with Taylor's army, one was killed by bandits, the other spent his time ministering to hospitalized soldiers.) Finally, the Mexican authorities offered good pay, promotions, and promises of land to those American deserters who enlisted. The alternative to serving was starvation.
In Mexico, the San Patricio Battalion is a subject for myth rather than history. Miller carefully lays out the realities, providing numbers and names. There are copious notes and an extensive bibliography. In short, this is a solid and interesting book, even though it is somewhat lacking in literary style.

A great book detailing an interesting, yet unknown aspect of an event that took place during the U>S. Mexican conflict in 1847. What is interesting is that how the deserters were dealt with. Excellent maps that the reader can better understand the contentsof the book. A book vital to any library that is looking for information on both the U. S. Mexican War 1847 and on this particular battal ion

This is an OK book on the subject, but unfortunately it turns a blind eye to the true reasons why a large number of immigrant Catholic soldiers deserted from the U.S. army before and during the war with Mexico. Nativism and anti-Catholic prejudice were the norm among military officers of that day. Violence, abuse, religious persecution, and unfair punishments were routinely directed against Irish and German soldiers like a hellish disease.

The courts that condemned the deserters did not allow religion or racial prejudice as a defense in the trials and that is why so many of the "San Patricios" cited abduction by Mexican "rancheros" or drunkenness as the reason they went "over the hill." Their fates at trial were assured from the beginning. The author doesn't take this into account, and in this sense one concludes that the research was shallow.

A better book is "The Rogue's March" by Peter Stevens.

quienes desertaron del ejercito invasor, pues se rebelaron ante la injusta guerra impuesta por el ya poderoso vecino del norte a la república del sur, recien independizada, quince años tenia como tal, enconrandose debilitada por una serie de pugnas inetrnas, las cuales por cierto, habian sido atizadas por el primer representante oficial del vecino del norte, se trato de una gvulgar uerra de conquista, la mas injusta que han visto los tiempos, por eso no es de extrañar que el ejercito invasor expe- rimentara el mas alto porcentaje de desercion durante una guerra, Polk, su mentor Jackson, Gaynes, Taylor, Scott, Pillow y demas caterva hoy por hoy se cuecen todos los dias en el infierno.